A Rush of Home Invasions and Shootings in Des Moines

So far this year, Des Moines has reported eight home invasions; the number coming very close to the eleven home invasions reported over the course of the entire previous year (2013).

Today on River to River, host Ben Kieffer speaks with Des Moines Register reporter, Regina Zilbermints, about the sudden rush of invasions. Zilbermints also shares what happened on Monday, when Des Moines police reported a number of shootings in the area. Here's an interactive map of reported invasions from the Des Moines Register.

It's not only bad news coming out of Des Moines, however. On Thursday, the Today Show named Des Moines as America’s wealthiest city on the show’s “Healthy, Wealthy, Wise” series. The show cited affordability, business growth, and green space as reasons for the ranking.

Also on today's River to River...

The EPA is considering lowering the amount of ethanol in the fuel supply. Depending on who you ask, this could have a significant economic impact on Iowa corn growers. Iowa Public Radio’s Clay Masters joins the program to talk about the Renewal Fuel Standard debate in our state.

Iowa Secretary of State Matt Shultz talks about his decision to charge nine more voter fraud cases, most of whom are felons who mistakenly believed their voting rights had been restored.

Nebraska and Iowa were recently ranked as the top most dangerous states to drive in. We talk with Pat Hoye from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau to find out possible changes to Iowa’s traffic safety laws.

And, we hear from Bible expert and Associate Professor at the University of Iowa's Religious Studies department, Robert Cargill. He sheds light on a new study that ranks several Eastern Iowa towns as some of the least "Bible-minded" in the U.S.

Find yourself wanting more? You can read more analysis from Cargill here on his blog.

On this edition of River to River, host Ben Kieffer sits down with University of Iowa archeologist and religious scholar, Robert Cargill. They discuss Cargill’s trip to Israel with UI students for an excavation of Tel Azekah, as well as his latest project - a six-part documentary called “Bible Secrets Revealed.” It begins airing this week on the History Channel, starting Wednesday November 13 at 9 p.m.

Critics are challenging an investigative report by the Associated Press that says ethanol production is damaging the environment. As Iowa Public Radio’s Clay Masters reports, the debate comes as the Environmental Protection Agency is getting closer to finalizing how much ethanol will be blended into gasoline in 2014.